'Halo 4' scheduled for November launch

DERRIK J. LANGAssociated Press

Published
7:00 pm CDT, Monday, April 16, 2012

LOS ANGELES — Master Chief will awaken in November.

Microsoft Corp. announced Tuesday that "Halo 4," the seventh game in the popular sci-fi franchise starring armored hero Master Chief, is scheduled for worldwide release Nov. 6 on Xbox 360. Set four years after the events of "Halo 3," the shoot-'em-up sequel will focus on Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 and sidekick Cortana battling an ancient enemy.

"Halo 4" marks the return of the superpowered protagonist, who has been absent from the series since drifting into space in cryogenic slumber at the end of 2007's "Halo 3." (2009's "Halo 3: ODST" and 2010's "Halo: Reach" focused on other characters in the "Halo" universe.) It will also be the first "Halo" shooter installment not created by Bungie Studios.

After the developer broke off from Microsoft in 2007, Microsoft established 343 Industries to push the "Halo" universe into the future. For Master Chief's latest intergalactic adventure, 343 Industries is giving him a minor makeover, tweaking both the supersoldier's iconic suit of armor, as well as his usually silent, oh-so-stoic attitude.

"One of the things we wanted to do was put Chief up against new challenges and have him face obstacles unlike anything he's faced before — some of those are external and some of those are internal," said "Halo 4" creative director Josh Holmes. "Throughout the course of the story, we wanted him to undergo some kind of meaningful change as a character."

Holmes said one of the most noticeable changes in Master Chief's armor is the bodysuit that he wears underneath the outer shell. It's slicker and more prominent than in previous "Halo" editions. The bodysuit regulates Master Chief's physical functions, and Holmes joked that it's the reason "he doesn't need to go to the bathroom in the middle of battle."